A True Epidemic

The word “BIG” characterizes the United States in many ways. It has big cars, big cities, and most of all big people. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than half of the adult population is either overweight or obese (www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html). Obesity however, is not only targeting adults but children as well. Obesity in children has tripled in the past thirty years alone causing many health issues and problems in the future. According to the New York Times Editorial, Selling Obesity at School, they blame the federal school lunch programs for obesity among children.

In this editorial, the New York Times main audience is the general public. They want to inform the average person that sending their child to school could in fact be a catalyst in whether or not they gain weight or worse, become obese. In order to accomplish this, they compare the school lunch system more than forty years ago and the school lunch system today. A little over forty years ago, a breakfast program was introduced to the United States in order to improve the nutritional value of the food that was being served in public schools. Today, schools are providing their students with high- calorie, high-fat foods that have no nutritional value. This editorial also focuses on the point that many schools do not sell healthy foods because they simply make more money selling soda, candy bars, and potato chips. This editorial argues that some schools are actually risking the health of their students in order to make a profit. Little do they know that this could potentially affect the health of many of their students.

Weight gain and obesity are not only changing children’s waistlines but their overall physical well-being. The effects of weight gain are life changing. Obesity is related to many health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and high-blood pressure. This editorial makes a strong argument saying that while schools were once trying to improve the nutritional value of their meals, they are throwing that down the drain in order to make a profit.

A strategy that this editorial focuses a lot of its attention on is what food is being sold in public schools. They make a good point when they say that junk food is being sold outside the federal meal program. Literally, there is junk food everywhere. Snack bars, à la carte lines, and most of all vending machines. Vending machines are available at every corner and are packed with candy bars, sugary sodas, and high-fat, high-sodium snacks. These changes in food have pretty much eliminated all benefits of the healthy lunches and breakfasts that were made over forty years ago.

Where is the government throughout all of this one might ask? The federal rules that govern what is being sold in schools are limited, and have not been updated for thirty years. The New York Times believe that until new regulations are written, schools will keep making unhealthy lunches, and children will continue to purchase candy bars, potato chips, and high sugar drinks. Luckily, congress seems to be looking a little more closely at this problem. They have recently passed a bill introduced by Representative Lynn Woolsey who is a Democrat of California. This bill will update nutritional standards and give the Department of Agriculture the ability to promote new regulations for food sold in schools.

According to this New York Times editorial, a lot of schools have made little steps in helping to make their food more nutritious. There are however, some schools that will resist due to the fact that they make a lot of money selling junk food in fundraisers, during sporting events and other activities. While junk food is popular and tasty, schools need to take into consideration the present and future health of their students.

This New York Times editorial makes some very good points on the nutritional aspects of many of the school lunch systems in America. However, I would of like to have seen this editorial incorporate some others thoughts and ideas from other people on this issue. It would have been interesting to see what some of the school systems in the United States had to say about their lunch programs and what arguments they could have came up with against this editorial. Although I do agree that many of the school lunches are not very nutritional, I also believe that in any argument the other side should get a chance to present their position.

While many school lunches are not very nutritious, I believe they are not the only reason children are becoming obese. This editorial should have incorporated other reasons for the rise in the obesity rate. For example, this editorial could have talked about sedentary lifestyle. Many children do not play outside or are active at all. Instead it seems as if children would rather watch television, eat, and sleep. Advertisements and media can also take some of the blame for weight gain in young people. Children of the United States are constantly bombarded with unhealthy foods, and television ads telling them to eat. All of these are components in why the obesity rate in children is increasing, and I believe they all add up equally.

This editorial focuses on schools and how they are providing unhealthy meals for their students. Young people are taught about health and nutrition in school, but the school does not back up what they preach and in a sense, are some what hypocritical. Parents should not have to worry about if their child is eating unhealthy or healthy at school but feel safe with every selection their child makes.

Obesity in children is an obvious problem that is getting worse each year. In order for the obesity rate in children to decrease everyone needs to contribute in some sort of manor. Not only is it the job for the overweight and obese to take it upon themselves to try and live a healthy lifestyle, but others can set the example and show that there is a better way of living. With patience and time, anyone can succeed as long as they are serious about losing weight and listen to the help that they are given. Being educated bout nutrition, selecting better food choices, and living an active lifestyle are just a few of the many options that can be done in order to decrease the obesity rate not only in children but in everyone, because as America moves forward, and looks to achieve a healthier lifestyle, today’s generation must set an example for the generation of tomorrow so that simple topics such as diet and exercise do not hinder the consistent progress America as seen throughout its history